NEW YORK

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Please spread this message widely. As many of you are already aware we have just experienced another ugly hate crime - this time against two Pakistani brothers in Corona Queens (see Newsday article below).

Although some of the perpetrators have been quickly apprehended and charged we need to make sure necessary reforms are implemented to adequately address the wave of hate crimes that we have been experiencing,

particularly since 9/11/2001. New Immigrant Community Empowerment or "NICE" (www.nynice.org) is organizing an emergency meeting this Thursday to determine a proper community response. We would like to have a

large and diverse group of people for the meeting and respectfully request your presence. The meeting is as follows:

Place: NICE office @ 71-34 Roosevelt Avenue (lower level)

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2003

Time: 6:30 p.m. sharp (the meeting will last approx. 1 hour)

Directions: take # 7, E, F, V, G, R train to 74th

Street
We ask your active support and solidarity to deal with hate crimes, specifically addressing this most recent one (see Newsday article below).
With your support and active engagement, we would like to plan another large multiethnic vigil within the next two-three weeks in which we invite community, advocates and press and then immediately afterwards the advocates could have a dialogue in order to discuss and agree on a comprehensive City peace agenda (education, legislative, enforcement reform and community engagement and awareness).

Please spread the word about the emergency meeting and join us with all your support.

In Solidarity,
Bryan Pu-Folkes

718-205-8796

Two Held in Bias Attack Against Pakistani TeensBy Bryan Virasami

STAFF WRITER

November 17, 2003
A group of Hispanic teenagers, two of them yelling

"You're Taliban," beat up a pair of Pakistani-born

brothers after they left their mosque in Corona,

police said, in what community leaders called the

worst instance of bias-related violence in that area

since a flurry of such incidents shortly after Sept.

11, 2001.
"They said, 'You're Taliban'," said Javad, 17, who

suffered a large bruise below his left eye, a bump on his head and a gash over one eye. His brother, Junaid, 16, also required treatment for minor injuries. Both were treated at Elmhurst Hospital Medical Center and released. They asked that their last name not be released, saying they feared recrimination.

school students finished praying at Al Falah Masjid on National Street, the brothers said.

At first, they thought the slurs they heard were

someone's idea of a joke. But a few minutes later the Hispanic boys who had yelled at them returned with five of their friends.

"They started pushing me and my brother around. They threw the first punch and I fought back. I think they really meant to pick a fight," Javad said.
Early yesterday, detectives from the Hate Crime Task Force arrested Alex Batista, 16, of 41-16 12th St. in Long Island City and Ivan Pracido, 18, of 40-40 100th St., Corona. Both were charged with hate crime assault and aggravated harassment, police said.

Although shaken by the attack, Javad said he couldn't understand why it happened. "We're taught to respect other religions and other types of people," he said. "They should respect other faiths and different colors." Imam Hafiz Paracha of Al Falah Masjid said Friday's incident was the first bias attack in the vicinity involving a worshiper since the tense days after Sept. 11, 2001, when advocates say hundreds of South Asians, Arabs and Muslims were victims of bias incidents across the city.
Bryan Pu-Folkes, president of the New Immigrant

Community Empowerment, said an emergency meeting of local community organizations was expected to discuss the incident and plan for a peace vigil. The group organized a peace vigil after a Sikh family was attacked in Woodside by men who called them "bin Laden family" in the wake of Sept. 11. No one has been arrested in that incident.

"The bottom line is we need to have a rapid response to these acts of hatred, from the community, to make sure people know this doesn't represent the broader community," Pu-Folkes said.
Javad said he hoped the police would step up patrols in the area, especially during the current month of Ramadan, because he's worried it could happen again.

*****************************************

Mets apologize for slur

November 15, 2003

By ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
PHOENIX - New Mets superscout Bill Singer started an ugly, racially charged barroom scene at the GM meetings at the Arizona Biltmore, placing his job in jeopardy and prompting a Mets apology, the Daily News has learned.

You can view the entire article at http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/137041p-121768c.html

******************************************

December 1, 2003, Jadin Wong, theatrical agent, is coordinating a show at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, Columbus Ave. at 63rd St., New York City. More than 30 performers, hosted by Jason Scott Lee.

Tickets are: $50, $75, $100 and ($250-VIP include a cocktail party and show) go to:

www.coe.2g.org or call:

(212) 352-3101 or group sales (212) 252-3174

*****************************************

ASIAN/PACIFIC/AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM AND INSTITUTE, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

As a rising tide of immigrants have come to the United States from significantly different cultures especially after 1965, they walk a bicultural tightrope with considerable inner turmoil and

transformation. After a critical statement of immigration history in New York City, distinguished psychoanalysts and writers from diverse cultures (South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East) will explore the dynamics of having different cultural selves in becoming a new American. Psychoanalysts will examine the psychology and experiences of their immigrant and second-generation patients, while writers will discuss how their literary imagination uses their different cultural selves.

Questions to be explored include:

What are the historical and current immigration trends in New York City? What are the challenges immigrants face as they walk the bicultural tightrope? How do these challenges vary with the second generation? How does the literature of immigrant and second generation writers expand the study of the new American?

This provocative conference will interest all those interested in the immigrant experience of becoming a new American: mental health professionals and community workers; those involved in literature,

journalism, and the media; psychoanalysts, social scientists, historians, and philosophers. The general public and those involved in the immigrant experience are all welcomed.

national Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights advocacy and educational group with over 80 chapters and affiliates nationwide, is pleased to announce that Andrew Lai of Florida is the first prize winner of the 2003 essay contest, sponsored by Yum! Brands, Inc.

This year's essay topic was "As a leader, what is your vision for building unity within the Asian Pacific American community and how will

you play a role?" Andrew's vision for unity in the APA community involves connecting all different aspects of APA society together and fostering growth and development through youth, festivals, assemblies, and community projects.

OCA worked with Yum! Brands to select the three essay contest winners. Andrew Lai received $1000 for the first place essay. The second place

award of $500 was given to Melissa Furlong of Round Rock, Texas and the third place award of $300 was given to Johnny Lin of Cerritos, Cal.

"OCA congratulates Andrew Lai on his winning essay," said Raymond Wong, OCA National President. "OCA also applauds the many high school students who showed the initiative to submit an essay on their role and vision for the APA community."
"It is an honor for OCA to sponsor an essay contest that helps educate and inspire youths to be more aware and active in the APA community,"

states Jean Chang, OCA Vice President of Education and Cultural Affairs. "The many submissions we received for this year's essay truly

demonstrates the developing leadership qualities among our youth."

Students' essays were judged according to a four-part criterion. The largest percentage was based on the theme and content of the essay,

which included thoroughness of presentation, validity of ideas, and the topic's significance. Other criteria included the organization,

development, grammar, mechanics, and style of the essays.

"Yum! Brands continues to seek opportunities to support the communities we serve, and we believe one of the best ways is through education,"

says Terrian Barnes, Yum! Brands Director of Community Diversity. "We are proud to partner with the Organization of Chinese Americans because they are helping to shape the future of our emerging leaders."

Yum! Brands, Inc. based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world's largest restaurant company, in terms of system units, with more than 33,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and territories, including A&W All-American Food, KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
For more information on the essay contest and to read the winning essays, please go to OCA's website at www.ocanatl.org <http://www.ocanatl.org>.
The Organization of Chinese Americans, a national civil rights organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, was founded in 1973 to ensure the civil rights of the Asian Pacific

American community. It maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Music From ChinaPerforms
Music of Silk and BambooSaturday, Nov. 22, 2003 at 3 pm
Bruno Walter Auditorium
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza at 65th Street, NYC
Free admission (first come first served seating)
The elegant sound of sizhu music of southern China is presented by Music From China in a free concert at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. The program introduces various regional styles belonging to this musical genre through instrumental music and songs. The traditions represented include Suzhou Tanci (narrative songs), Fujian Nanyin (Fujian music), Kunqu (Kun opera music), Jiangnan Sizhu (Jiangnan silk & bamboo music), Guangdong Yinyue (Cantonese music), and Yuequ (Cantonese opera songs).